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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Big shake-up for maternity care | Big shake-up for maternity care |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Some English hospitals should be stripped of doctor-led maternity care and specialist children's services, a government advisor says. | Some English hospitals should be stripped of doctor-led maternity care and specialist children's services, a government advisor says. |
| Dr Sheila Shribman, the children and maternity tsar, calls for regional super-centres instead. | Dr Sheila Shribman, the children and maternity tsar, calls for regional super-centres instead. |
| Hospitals that lose maternity units may get midwife-led services and more support for home births will be provided to give women greater choice. | Hospitals that lose maternity units may get midwife-led services and more support for home births will be provided to give women greater choice. |
| Dr Shribman said the move would improve care, not damage it as critics say. | Dr Shribman said the move would improve care, not damage it as critics say. |
| Women will not be losing access to a consultant should they need one, it might not just be down the road Dr Sheila ShribmanChildren and maternity tsar | Women will not be losing access to a consultant should they need one, it might not just be down the road Dr Sheila ShribmanChildren and maternity tsar |
| Some have argued that hospital cuts are being driven by NHS deficits - the health service finished last year over £500 million in the red. | Some have argued that hospital cuts are being driven by NHS deficits - the health service finished last year over £500 million in the red. |
| But Dr Shribman said EU restrictions on working hours meant specialist services could not be safely provided in every local hospital. | But Dr Shribman said EU restrictions on working hours meant specialist services could not be safely provided in every local hospital. |
| Round-the-clock care | Round-the-clock care |
| She said it would be better to have the best doctors on hand round-the-clock in regional centres. | She said it would be better to have the best doctors on hand round-the-clock in regional centres. |
| She said: "I do not believe the changes I am proposing are about the budget. | She said: "I do not believe the changes I am proposing are about the budget. |
| We need more than fine words to ensure that this vision is translated into maternity services that provide not only choice but one-to-one care Dame Karleen DaviesRoyal College of Midwives | We need more than fine words to ensure that this vision is translated into maternity services that provide not only choice but one-to-one care Dame Karleen DaviesRoyal College of Midwives |
| "I understand people feel anxious when they think they might lose something." | "I understand people feel anxious when they think they might lose something." |
| She added: "Women will not be losing access to a consultant should they need one, it might not just be down the road." | She added: "Women will not be losing access to a consultant should they need one, it might not just be down the road." |
| The prospect of hospitals losing services has sparked anger among the public with demonstrations seen up and down the country. | The prospect of hospitals losing services has sparked anger among the public with demonstrations seen up and down the country. |
| The government has already floated the idea of taking A&E and specialist heart services away from some hospitals. | The government has already floated the idea of taking A&E and specialist heart services away from some hospitals. |
| Many NHS trusts are already drawing up plans to re-design services. | Many NHS trusts are already drawing up plans to re-design services. |
| Dr Shribman's report suggested networks of care could be created for maternity services, intensive neo-natal care and paediatric and child cancer services. | Dr Shribman's report suggested networks of care could be created for maternity services, intensive neo-natal care and paediatric and child cancer services. |
| She said regional centres providing this specialist care would be supported by enhanced community services. | She said regional centres providing this specialist care would be supported by enhanced community services. |
| class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/06/in_pictures_home_from_home_childbirth/html/1.stm">A day in the life of the midwife-led Mayday Birth Centre These could include midwife-led birth centres, either in local hospitals or community clinics. | |
| There would also be better support for home births. | There would also be better support for home births. |
| Choice | Choice |
| The government has promised to give women a choice of where they give birth by 2009. | The government has promised to give women a choice of where they give birth by 2009. |
| But the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said another 10,000 midwives would be needed on top of the 24,000 already working in England. | But the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has said another 10,000 midwives would be needed on top of the 24,000 already working in England. |
| Dame Karlene Davies, RCM general secretary, said real choice was good news for women. | Dame Karlene Davies, RCM general secretary, said real choice was good news for women. |
| But she said: "We need more than fine words to ensure that this vision is translated into maternity services that provide not only choice but one-to-one care from the same midwife throughout pregnancy, as the government promised in its 2005 general election manifesto." | But she said: "We need more than fine words to ensure that this vision is translated into maternity services that provide not only choice but one-to-one care from the same midwife throughout pregnancy, as the government promised in its 2005 general election manifesto." |
| Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, welcomed the move to provide more midwife-led maternity care via midwife-led birth centres, local children's centres and at home. | Mary Newburn, of the National Childbirth Trust, welcomed the move to provide more midwife-led maternity care via midwife-led birth centres, local children's centres and at home. |
| She said: "Just because services have been organised around hospitals in the past doesn't mean this is the best or only way of providing care." | She said: "Just because services have been organised around hospitals in the past doesn't mean this is the best or only way of providing care." |
| However, she stressed good communication was essential to ensure women who needed specialist care could be transferred swiftly. | However, she stressed good communication was essential to ensure women who needed specialist care could be transferred swiftly. |
| Dr Shribman refused to be drawn on how many regional centres would be needed, but the Conservatives have identified 43 maternity units at risk - a fifth of the total. | Dr Shribman refused to be drawn on how many regional centres would be needed, but the Conservatives have identified 43 maternity units at risk - a fifth of the total. |
| What is your reaction to this story? Do you have a personal experience you can share, or do you work in a maternity ward? | What is your reaction to this story? Do you have a personal experience you can share, or do you work in a maternity ward? |
| Send us your comments by filling in the form below. | Send us your comments by filling in the form below. |